Orbiting satellite toy



Jan. 9, 1962 J. J. COLLETTI 3,015,908

ORBITING SATELLITE TOY Filed July 13, 1959 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH J. COLLETTI Y Kim mmw United States Patent 3,015,908 ORBITING SATELLITE TOY Joseph J. Colletti, 24 Tappan St., Baldwinsville, N.Y., assignor of thirty-three and one-third percent to Richard vou K. Bruns, Fayetteville, N.Y.

Filed July 13, 1959, Ser. No. 826,575 2 Claims. (CI. 4652) This invention relates generally to amusement devices, and has particular reference to a novel toy for simulating the orbiting movement of a satellite or like planetary object.

Briefly stated, the invention contemplates the provision of a simulated satellite body and a manually rotatable, independent support member by means of which the body can be made to travel in a circular path around the axis of rotation of the member. The support member is preferably an open frame that is substantially larger than the satellite body, and during rotation the body is held in position on the frame by centrifugal-force only, whereby skill must be exercised in using the toy and particularly in initiating rotation of the frame without having the body fall therefrom.

Accordingly, the broad objective of the invention is to provide a novel orbiting satellite toy wherein the entertainment derived from the toy depends in part upon the skill and coordination of the user.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a toy of the character described which is instructive as well as entertaining.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a toy of the character described which is pleasing to a relatively wide age group of users.

It is another important object of the invention to provide a toy of the character described which has a simple, inexpensive construction and yet is relatively strong and durable.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide an orbiting satellite toy which includes means for simulating an audible transmission from the satellite as it orbits.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description thereof read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a representative embodiment of the invention for the purpose of disclosure.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a diminutive perspective view showing the manner of operation of a satellite toy embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of the toy showing the rotatable frame member in its at rest position with the simulated satellite body positioned therein;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section through the toy taken substantially along line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the frame member seat for the satellite body, the view being taken substantially along line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the sound producing means on the frame member looking substantially in the direction of the arrows 55 on FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical section through the sound produciug means taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of the satellite body.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers designate the same part in each of the views, the toy of the invention is essentially comprised of a support or frame member 10 and a body 12 fashioned or decorated to represent a satellite. Frame 10 is preferably a unitary, molded plastic structure in the general form of an open 3,015,908 Patented Jan. 9, 1962 triangle although it may be streamlined somewhat by cutting off the corners at the base of the triangle asshown. The base 14 and sides of the frame are preferably rcc tangular or square in cross section and of such dimensions that the frame is reasonably rigid.

At the apex 16 of the triangle, opposite the base 14, the frame is formed with an eye or ring 18 which is adapted to receive a cylindrical handle 20 with a sliding fit. The handle is provided with an enlarged head 22 so that the frame is retained thereon and can be made to rotate about the handle as indicated in FIGURE 1. Directly below the eye 18, base 14 is formed with a shallow cup-shaped seat or recess 24, FIGURES 2-4, on which the satellite body 12 is adapted to be positioned for operation of the toy.

The body 12 is preferably spherical in shape and relatively lightweight. It can be either hollow, as shown in FIGURE 3, or solid, and in the latter case it can be formed of sponge rubber or porous plastic. As indicated in the drawings, the diameter of the body 12 is substantially less than the interior dimensions of the frame :10 and substantially greater than the width of the base 14, see FIG- URE 3. To give the body the appearance of a satellite or similar planetary object, it is provided with a plurality of antenna fingers 26 or with other suitable decoration or coloration. For example, FIGURE 7 illustrates a variation wherein the body 12 is provided with encircling annular rings 28.

In using the toy, the handle 20 is held in a substantially horizontal position, and with the frame 10 depending therefrom as shown in FIGURE 2, the satellite body 12 is positioned on the seat 24, it being the object of the toy to put the satellite in orbit by having it rotate with the frame around the handle. This can usually be accomplished by gently rocking the frame back and forth on the handle through increasingly longer arcs until full rotation in a substantially vertical plane is achieved with the satellite body being held in position against the seat by centrifugal force. In this connection, it will be noted that the seat engages such a small portion of the satellite body that it does little more than to prevent the body from falling off the frame when initially positioned thereon, and therefore both care and skill must be exercised to keep the body on the seat while initiating rotation. The rocking and rotation of the frame is accomplished by a circular movement of the wrist and/or arm as indicated in FIGURE 1, and after the user has successfully put the satellite in orbit he can amuse himself by seeing how fast or how slow he can rotate the frame and still keep the satellite body in position thereon, or for how long he can continue the orbiting.

While the frame 10 and satellite body are shown in the drawings as being completely independent of one another, the body could be loosely attached to the frame as by a length of string or wire which would not affect the above described manner of operation but would eliminate the necessity for retrieving the body when it falls from the frame.

In order to give the satellite the appearance of emitting an audible signal as it orbits, the frame 10 may be provided with sound producing means such as the whistle assembly 30 mounted in an offset portion 32 of one of the frame sides. This assembly comprises an open ended tube 34 having a button whistle insert 36 adjacent one end thereof, the tube being fixed in an aperture 38 through the offset portion as shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. The oifset portion is formed so that the whistle is inclined at an angle of approximately 45 to the horizontal whereby air entering the tube as the frame rotates causes the whistle to operate. In the alternative, the Whistle can be mounted in the satellite body as indicated at 40, FIGURE 7, but this necessitates proper orientation of the body each time it is placed on the frame to ensure operation of the whistle. i

As will be apparent to those familiar with the art, the invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The embodiments disclosed are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative rather than restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is: V

1. In an amusement device of the character described: a substantially spherical body fashioned to represent a miniature-satellite; and means to revolve said body around a point for simulating the orbiting movement of a satellite, said last-named means comprising a substantially rigid open frame of generally triangular shape, a handle detachably connected to said frame for manually rotating the frame around the handle, said frame being adapted to depend from said handle in its at'rest position with the base of the frame triangle disposed in a substantially horizontal position, a generally cup-shaped seat formed in said frame base for saidspherical body, the over-all dimensions of said body being substantially less than the interior dimensions of said open frame, said body being unsecured to the frame and being retained on said seat by gravity when the frame is stationary and held against the seat by 2 centrifugal force when the frame is being rotated, and

sound producing means on said frame operable when the latter is being rotated.

2. In an amusement device of the character described: a substantially spherical body fashioned to represent a 5 miniature satellite; and means to revolve said body around a point for simulating the orbiting movement of a satellite comprising a substantially rigid frame, and a handle detachably connected to said frame for manually rotating the frame around the handle; said frame having a handle en- 10 gaging portion, a base portion normally depending from 15 generally cup-shaped seat on said base portion for insecurely supporting said spherical body, said body being retained on said seat by gravity when the frame is stationary and held against the seat by centrifugal force when the frame is being rotated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 186,255 Jenkins Jan. 16, 1877 5 1,858,145 Felardo May 10, 1932 2,485,064 Paclan Oct. 18, 1949 

